Business Action | Autumn 2022
Autumn 2022 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes the event guide to BBxpo exhibition in Bideford, local business resources and other business news.
Autumn 2022 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes the event guide to BBxpo exhibition in Bideford, local business resources and other business news.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
At the <strong>Business</strong> & IP Centre<br />
Devon(BIPC)youcanaccess<br />
ourdatabasesfreeofcharge.<br />
Theinformationavailable<br />
includesbasicguidanceon<br />
startingabusiness;checking<br />
outcompetitors;localretailand<br />
leisureinformation;detailsof<br />
emergingmarkets;British<br />
Standardsandsourcesofgrant<br />
funding.Thisisallinformation<br />
usefulforbusinessesofallsizes<br />
andatallstages.<br />
COBRAprovidessector<br />
specificinformationforstartups,smallandgrowing<br />
businesses,pullingallthe<br />
informationtogetherinan<br />
easy-to-understandfactsheet.<br />
GRANTfinderistheplaceto<br />
goifyou’relookingforsmall<br />
businessgrantsandloansto<br />
helpyourbusinessgrow.<br />
RESOURCES NEWS<br />
Free access to business<br />
databases through BIPC<br />
The <strong>Business</strong> & IP Centre (BIPC) at Barnstaple library offers<br />
businesses a range of useful facilities, deskspace, meeting rooms<br />
and resources. On this page, BIPC Devon discusses two very useful<br />
resources for North Devon businesses: free access to business<br />
databases and advice on protecting intellectual property<br />
LocalDataOnlinefocuses<br />
onretailandleisureinyour<br />
localarea.Searchthisdatabase<br />
foroverviews,demographics,<br />
occupancy/vacancychanges<br />
andgapanalysesfora<br />
particularplaceorcomparethe<br />
locationofkeybrands.<br />
ExperianMarketIQisa<br />
sourceofcompanyinformation<br />
includingownershipand<br />
financial,enablingyoutoassess<br />
theriskofcompaniesyoumay<br />
beconsideringtradingwith.<br />
BritishStandardsOnlineisa<br />
resourceforbestpractice<br />
standardsthatenhance<br />
innovation,productivity,<br />
sustainabilityandsafety.<br />
NewsBankisa<br />
comprehensivenewscollection,<br />
featuringSouthWestregional<br />
titlesandUKbusinesstitles,<br />
pluslocal,regional,national<br />
andinternationalsources.<br />
Searchthetextofprintand<br />
online-onlynewspapers,blogs,<br />
newswires,journals,broadcast<br />
transcriptsandvideos.<br />
Weknowthatdatabasescan<br />
bedauntingandsometimes<br />
trickytonavigate.That’swhy<br />
we’veproduceduserguidesto<br />
leadyouthroughasearchstepby-step.Wealsohavea<br />
dedicateddatabaseexpert<br />
availabletogivecustomised<br />
guidanceforyourbusiness.<br />
Someofthedatabasescan<br />
beaccessedremotely,othersin<br />
allDevonlibrariesviawifior<br />
publicaccessPCsandsomein<br />
specificlibraries.<br />
■ Formoreinformation<br />
abouthowtoaccessthem<br />
pleasecontact<br />
bipc.librariesunlimited.org.uk<br />
oremail<br />
bipc@librariesunlimited.org.uk<br />
Need it<br />
Find it<br />
4 copies of <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong><br />
magazine posted to you,<br />
12-month online listing<br />
& 4 business listings<br />
for £30 per year<br />
Book at needitfindit.uk<br />
HERE<br />
BIPC support to help your business protect its intellectual property<br />
Have you come up with a<br />
great idea? Haveyouthought<br />
aboutprotectingit?<br />
Protectingyourideais<br />
paramountwhendevelopingan<br />
inventionordesign.Atthe<br />
<strong>Business</strong>&IPCentreDevon<br />
(BIPC)wehaveanumberof<br />
waystohelpyougetthe<br />
protectionyouneedforyour<br />
IntellectualProperty(IP)and<br />
it’seasierthanyouthink.<br />
IPconsistsoffourmain<br />
areas:copyright,trademarks,<br />
patentsandregistereddesigns.<br />
➤ Copyrightprotectsawide<br />
rangeofcreativeworks–<br />
literary,artisticandmusical,<br />
aswellasmostrecordings<br />
andbroadcasts,andmost<br />
software.Itprotectsyou<br />
fromotherpeoplecopying<br />
yourworkorusingyour<br />
workwithoutyour<br />
permission.IntheUK<br />
copyrightisanautomatic<br />
right.Thismeansyoudon’t<br />
needtoformallyregisterit.<br />
However,thismakesiteven<br />
moreimportantto<br />
understandhowtoprotect<br />
yourownwork,andwhatis<br />
permittedwhenusingother<br />
people’swork.<br />
➤ Trademarksprotectyour<br />
brand–examplesinclude<br />
yourtradingname,thename<br />
ofyourproductsorservices,<br />
oryourlogo.Bytakingouta<br />
trademarkyoucanensure<br />
you’refreetousethisname<br />
foryearstocome,aswellas<br />
addingvaluetoyourbusiness<br />
andprotectingyourselffrom<br />
‘passingoff’.<br />
➤ Patentsprotectinventions–<br />
howthingswork.Theycan<br />
addreallong-termvalueto<br />
yourbusiness,enablingyou<br />
toprotectyourinventions,or<br />
licensethemoutforothersto<br />
use.Takingoutapatentisa<br />
muchlongerandmoreindepthprocessthanother<br />
formsofIPprotection.Toget<br />
themostoutoryourmoney,<br />
legaladviceisstrongly<br />
recommended.Your<br />
inventionneedstobenew,<br />
inventiveandabletobe<br />
made.Foryourapplication<br />
tobesuccessful,it’s<br />
imperativethatyoukeepit<br />
confidentialuntilpublication<br />
bytheIPO.Youmayalso<br />
needtoconsiderNDAsor<br />
confidentialityagreementsif<br />
you’reworkingwithothers<br />
todevelopyourideas.<br />
➤ Registered designsprotect<br />
theappearanceofyour<br />
product–thiscouldbethe<br />
shapeorconfigurationof<br />
yourproduct,orsurface<br />
decorationandpatterns.<br />
Registeringyourdesign<br />
givesyouaddedprotection<br />
fromanyoneusingor<br />
copyingyourworkovera<br />
longerperiodoftime.If<br />
designisacorepartofyour<br />
business,youcanregister<br />
multipledesignsatonce,for<br />
areducedcost.<br />
Youcanbookafree1:1<br />
appointmentwithusforan<br />
overviewofintellectual<br />
property,andhowitcanwork<br />
foryourbusiness.Wecanoffer<br />
individualappointmentsonline<br />
oratBarnstaple,Exeterand<br />
Paigntonlibrariestohelpyou<br />
getstartedandsignpostyouto<br />
yournextmove.<br />
Ifyou’reinneedofadviceor<br />
guidance,wecanofferyoua<br />
freeinitialconsultationwith<br />
StephensScownSolicitors,one<br />
ofthelargestteamsofsolicitors<br />
intheUKspecialisingin<br />
intellectualpropertyand<br />
informationtechnology.<br />
<strong>Business</strong>esofanysizecanbe<br />
atriskofIPinfringement,<br />
thereforeensuringyouhavethe<br />
rightformofprotectionis<br />
worththetimeandeffort.<br />
■ Finddetailsonlineat<br />
bipc.librariesunlimited.org.uk<br />
oremail<br />
bipc@librariesunlimited.org.uk<br />
2 business action | <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2022</strong> | business-action.co.uk
Change language